Today, my Mom Viviane and I went to Regina to celebrate her birthday. We decided it would be nice to meet up for lunch with a cousin that we hadn’t seen in awhile. During our visit my cousin Arlene asked me a very interesting question, “how did you get to be so introspective at such a young age?” Well it took me about 2 seconds to answer this:
My Grandmother/ Grandmère – Elise Hall
For some people it takes years to find a heroine/hero in their lives for me I was born and there she was. For my childhood years she was the woman I looked up to for her no nonsense way of life, her love of reading and passion for life. In my teens we developed into a kinship of being able to talk about anything without any judgement on either side of the conversation. In my twenties I realized that my Grandmother was my best friend, now how may people can say that. Some weeks we would phone each other 3 – 4 times to talk about major issues and sometimes about what we had for lunch.
What many people don’t realize that it was my Grandmother who really molded me into the woman I am today. You see my father and I never ever got along. Many of you would say well that’s how every father/daughter relationship is. No, I really mean we drove each other crazy. He would say something was black and I would do my damnedest to make him say it was white, well maybe not just white, brilliant white. I didn’t like the way he viewed the world and he didn’t understand my views any better. My Grandmother was the person that I would call and tell her about all of the injustices I thought that I had to live with. She would always listen carefully never taking either of our sides in the conflict (she also loved her son in law). I believe it’s time for the world to hear her amazing advice that changed my life forever:
“You don’t have to like someone to love them” Elise Hall
Holy crap that hit me hard. She just gave me permission to accept and recognize that I really don’t like my dad and his judgments but at the same time I can still love him because well, his my dad. Wow I know mind blowing isn’t it!!! Well I wish I could say things with my Dad changed overnight with this revelation, that would be a lie but over the next few years and up to when my Dad passed away life was a little easier.
Elise had a special way about her. Her gift was listening to others and making people feel like they were the only person in the world that mattered to her. If you mention Elise to someone that knew her you will likely hear a story about how she helped them or took the time to get to know them when they really need a friend to talk to.
Scott and my 2 sons, Nicholas and Kade were also very blessed to know her. Sometimes during our weekly phone call the 3 of us would fight over who would get to talk to her first to tell her some excited news. We always looked forward to Grandmère’s Christmas visits to our house were the conversations went on and on for hours.
They say that losing someone gets easier with time maybe that’s true but it still doesn’t take the sting out of my heart when I pick up the phone to call and tell her something important only to remember that she’s no longer with us. My heart will always be missing a piece until I meet her again someday.
Love you always Grandmère . Your Pennie
p.s. Arlene, thanks for asking me the question and reminding me how lucky I am to have such amazing women in my life, including you, my soul sister!!!
p.s. Mom thanks for being an amazing woman, Scott and I agree you are always welcome to live with us. Happy Birthday Mom, love you always.